How do I read a home inspection report?

Start by looking at the summary section, which lists the most critical findings. Focus on safety hazards first (electrical, structural, water intrusion), then major system issues (roof, HVAC, plumbing), and finally maintenance items. Viorly can analyze your report automatically and prioritize findings for you — just upload the PDF.

What are red flags in a home inspection?

Common red flags include moisture intrusion and water damage (especially in crawl spaces and basements), aging or damaged sewer lines (pre-1970s homes often have clay or Orangeburg pipes), foundation settling or cracks, roof deterioration, outdated electrical panels (like Federal Pacific or Zinsco), and signs of pest damage. Which issues matter most varies by region and climate — Viorly's analysis accounts for both.

How much do home inspection repairs cost?

Repair costs vary widely by issue and by region. Typical national ranges: roof replacement ($8,000–$25,000), sewer line replacement ($5,000–$15,000), foundation repair ($3,000–$15,000), HVAC replacement ($5,000–$12,000), electrical panel upgrade ($1,500–$4,000). Viorly provides cost estimates localized to your home's area when you upload your inspection report.

What is a home inspection report analysis tool?

A home inspection report analysis tool uses AI to read your inspection report PDF and extract the key findings, prioritize them by severity, and estimate repair costs. Viorly is a free analysis tool for home buyers anywhere in the U.S. — it turns your complex inspection report into a clear action plan with local repair costs and vetted contractor recommendations for your area.

Is Viorly free to use?

Yes, Viorly is completely free. You can upload your home inspection report and get a full analysis — including prioritized findings, repair cost estimates, and a maintenance calendar — without creating an account or paying anything.

How do I negotiate repairs after a home inspection?

After receiving your inspection report, identify the most significant issues (safety hazards, major system failures, expensive repairs) and request that the seller either fix them before closing, provide a credit toward closing costs, or reduce the purchase price. Focus on items that are genuine defects rather than cosmetic preferences. Having clear repair cost estimates strengthens your negotiating position.

What type of contractor cleans gutters?

A gutter cleaning service, a handyman or a window cleaning company; all three do it. Ask for proof of insurance, since the work is on a ladder at your house.

Does an overflowing gutter cause the roof of my patio to leak?

It can: water pouring over the back edge runs behind the fascia and under the first course of roofing on a low patio roof. Clean the gutter and check the drip edge before assuming the patio roof itself has failed.

Twice a year, late spring and after the leaves drop. Under pines or a big maple, three times. Gutter guards cut the frequency but do not end it.

What does gutter cleaning cost, and can I do it myself?

The twice-a-year job that prevents the expensive ones: fascia rot, basement water, ice dams. Here is what a service charges, what makes the price move, and when a ladder is not the answer.

Sometimes yourself, sometimes a pro

Hire a pro

$100 to $300

typical in the US, before local labor differences

Do it yourself

$0 to $30

parts only, about 60 to 120 minutes

On a single-storey house with firm, level ground around it, gutter cleaning is an hour or two with a ladder, gloves and a scoop. On two storeys, a steep lot or a steep roof, hire it: falls from ladders are the most common serious home-maintenance injury, and a service with a standoff ladder and insurance costs less than an urgent care visit. Pros also flush the downspouts and spot loose hangers while they are up there.

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Free, no account for the first question. The advisor knows your home's age, systems and region.

Why it costs what it costs

Linear feet and storeys: most services price by the foot of gutter, with a second-storey surcharge for the extra ladder work.
How bad it is: gutters full of compacted debris and seedlings take three times as long as a light fall clean.
Add-ons: downspout unclogging, minor resealing or gutter guard quotes are upsells; take the guard quote home and read our guide before saying yes.

When to stop and call someone

Anything above a single storey, or a lot where the ladder cannot sit level.
Gutters pulling away from the fascia or sagging between hangers, which is a repair as well as a clean.
Water overflowing at one spot in rain even when the gutter looks clear: the downspout is blocked underground or the pitch is wrong.

If you do it yourself

Set up extension ladder on firm, level ground with standoff brackets
Wear work gloves and scoop out debris starting near a downspout
Work away from the downspout, depositing debris into a bucket
Flush gutters and downspouts with a garden hose to check flow
Check for any leaking joints or sagging sections while up there
Clear any clogs at downspout openings with a plumber's snake if needed

Tools: extension ladder, work gloves, garden hose, gutter scoop or trowel, bucket.

Questions people ask

What type of contractor cleans gutters?: A gutter cleaning service, a handyman or a window cleaning company; all three do it. Ask for proof of insurance, since the work is on a ladder at your house.
Does an overflowing gutter cause the roof of my patio to leak?: It can: water pouring over the back edge runs behind the fascia and under the first course of roofing on a low patio roof. Clean the gutter and check the drip edge before assuming the patio roof itself has failed.
How often?: Twice a year, late spring and after the leaves drop. Under pines or a big maple, three times. Gutter guards cut the frequency but do not end it.

What would it cost at your house?

Ranges above are national. Ask about your own home, or paste the quote you were given and we check it against the range. Free, no account for the first question.

Get a number for my house Paste my quote, check it

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Published 2026-10-29. Source: Viorly's repair cost database, the same numbers behind its inspection report analysis and advisor. The DIY figure is parts at retail; the pro range is before local labor differences. Lowest listed price is $100.